WVC announces 2026 graduation ceremonies in Wenatchee and Omak

WENATCHEE — Wenatchee Valley College will celebrate the class of 2026 with a series of graduation ceremonies and nursing convocations across its Wenatchee and Omak campuses in June.

The college’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing convocation and poster presentation for LPN-to-BSN graduates is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, at First Presbyterian Church in Omak. An associate degree nursing pinning ceremony for graduates from both campuses will follow at 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at Wenatchee High School.

WVC’s Wenatchee campus commencement ceremony is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, at the Town Toyota Center, while the Omak campus ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, at the Omak Performing Arts Center.

The Associated Students of Wenatchee Valley College selected English professor and current Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield as the commencement speaker for the Wenatchee ceremony. Sheffield, who serves as Washington’s eighth poet laureate for 2025–2027, is the author of several award-winning poetry and nonfiction collections, including “Cascadia Field Guide: Art, Ecology, Poetry,” which received a 2024 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Award. He also edits poetry for Terrain.org and has twice been named a finalist for the Washington State Book Award.

At the Omak campus ceremony, students selected history and political science professor Shannon Rodman as commencement speaker. Rodman has taught at WVC since 2018 and is known for emphasizing critical thinking and active engagement in the classroom. Outside teaching, she co-advises Community Engaged Knights and competes in powerlifting events.

WVC officials noted that parking at the Town Toyota Center will be limited during the Wenatchee ceremony because of ongoing construction, with additional parking available at Walla Walla Point Park.

The college is also encouraging guests needing disability accommodations to contact Student Life before June 18. Accessible seating, ASL interpretation and Spanish interpretation will be available during the Wenatchee ceremony. Similar accommodations, including wheelchair-accessible seating, ASL interpretation and Spanish translation, will also be available at the Omak campus ceremony.

WVC and the Town Toyota Center are also reminding guests that balloons and flowers will not be allowed inside the arena during the Wenatchee commencement ceremony. Guests may leave those items at a designated reception area in the lobby before entering.

All graduation ceremonies and nursing convocations will be livestreamed on WVC’s YouTube channel. More information is available at wvc.edu/Graduation.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media